Author: groutjohn

The Shapeoko 2 arrived free of charge last spring: Thanks Inventables! It has been mostly assembled and somewhat functional since fall. Now the final tweaking has been done and it runs. Here’s proof:

In addition to laser cutting, extruding, and sawing; 7HMS (7Hills Makerspace) members can now enjoy milling materials. The process starts by attaching material to the waste board. This can be done by using packing tape to tape down the work piece.

Next create your design in Easel (cloud-based CAM software, http://www.easel.com) or you import an SVG file from inkscape or elsewhere Into Easel. Easel will walk you through all the steps to get your milling job started. Once the Shapeoko is cutting away on your project, you can contain the dust using the Coroplast box. When the milling is done, have the vacuum ready to suck up the dust and clean off your work.

As soon as the Creative Technology students hear the lecture on milling (next Monday), Berry’s Shapeoko 1 will join the Shapeoko 2 in the makerspace. The work flows are the same. The size of the Shapeoko 1 is just a little smaller.

This Blog post should have occurred May 30, 2012 or shortly thereafter. I’m just now doubling back to catch up. On Memorial day, I was at the 7hills Makerspace. A knock came at the door. It was Caleb Kraft from Hackaday. He asked for a quick tour. You can see it in the Hackaday blog (link below).

I found some channeled flashing at the hardware store that I made into the frame. I use 2×4 cutoffs to elevate the plastic in the oven, so it had a little more room to sag. A little over a minute at 400 degrees did the trick. Press the frame against the weather stripping, flip the switch, one giant sucking sound later you have a part:

I started out making a simple part. The mold was sawn, sanded, turned on the lathe, and then sanded some more. I was surprised to see the wood’s grain still showing through. I cut off the excess and added some self-adhesive vinyl. Here’s how it turned out:

It’s not perfect, but it was a pleasing first attempt. I’m planning to make a bottom enclosure from bent acrylic. That’s one more thing I’m learning about as I go.

The next thing I wanted to try during my inaugural molding session was an experiment to see if you can create molds on the makerbot. Would the two plastics stick to each other making mold release difficult? The answer is … no. The makerbot-made molds did not stick to the sheet plastic. However, the surface imperfections typical with makerbots was visible through the sheet plastic. The results show that with numerous small parts, I should have paid more attention to airflow and bridging/webbing.
;

So there you have it. I felt pretty successful for a first try, but I have lots more to learn about vacuum forming.

Makerspaces often mix technology with design. I opted for neither. I did not design it and it is not animatronic yet (although if I leave it in Zane’s company for too long it will be). Instead, I went with whimsy. I 3D printed a whimsical, mythical beast: a “teacup dragon” that I downloaded from http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:17906.

When learning a new programming language, you start by getting the computer to display “hello world” on the screen. It is a preliminary confirmation that you can do the basics of the programming language. With a new makerspace like ours, lots of visitors and future members will want to learn what can be done in the space and how to do the basics on our machinery.

In order to help them, I have tried to design a single project that costs just a few dollars, and that uses a diverse set of machines available at 7Hills Makerspace. The project is not a fancy high-tech, Arduino based device; it’s a flashlight (and not even a good one at that). It uses 3D printing, circuit board etching, soldering, and laser cutting. It is essentially a “hello world” project for new or future makers.

The Hello World of Making" Flashlight

The body is 3D printed (here in red ABS); as is the “on” button. The top and bottom are laser cut 1/16 inch acrylic. The top is etched to read “Hello World of Making,” the bottom has the 7Hills Makerspace written out in text and the logo is displayed. The electronic components include a CR2320 battery, battery holder, a resistor, an LED and a push button.

Exploded view

Off

On

The project is still a work in progress. As you can see, some of the holes don’t line up right yet and expediency lead me to use a yellow LED. future versions will have bright white LEDs (because I will have gone to the store by then). I also plan to think throught the processes that are use and schedule them so that waiting time for one project is utilized to get another process started. For example, while the circuit board is being etched for 20 minutes, Laser cutting and etching could be introduced and started. While the 3D printer is finishing, Drilling the PCB and soldering could begin. The goal is to have the build to be of managable duration, not to rushed, but not boring or tedious either.

This is a first attempt. I plan to change it and improve it. I would love to hear your ideas about how to make it better.

Hello World of Making!

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Open Make Night - Community WelcomeAugust 6, 2015 at 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm7hills Makerspace, 336 Broad Street, Rome, GA 30161Join us for open make night. Visitors can use any tools or equi pment. Come visit and make something!

Open Make Night - Community WelcomeAugust 13, 2015 at 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm7hills Makerspace, 336 Broad Street, Rome, GA 30161Join us for open make night. Visitors can use any tools or equi pment. Come visit and make something!